“My only comment is that for someone who is not involved in the actual day-to-day runnings of town government, it would be a very hard learning curve to step in to do that,” he said.

Councilwoman Marion Cassie was not immediately available for comment.

“I also think I have the skill set,” said Fralick, who worked as the chief European economist for Morgan Stanley.

Fralick is also a board member and treasurer of the Canandaigua Lake Watershed Alliance, treasurer of the Finger Lakes Land Trust and chairman of the town’s conservation commission.

“People in the area have chosen to trust him to keep their books straight,” said Steve Lewandowski, consultant to the Watershed Alliance. “I think that would be a good trait for a town supervisor.”

Without the distraction of preparing a campaign and political interference, Fralick said he would be able to focus on the town’s business.

“The town would get somebody who’s really interested in putting politics aside and trying to get the government of the town to govern in the interest of the community ... for all the residents,” he said.

“I think Jim is a very community-minded person,” he said. “He’s very inclusive. He would be respectful of different opinions.”

Hankin said that he himself is interested in the supervisor position, “but no one on the current board has asked me if I’m interested.” Hankin ran on the Democratic ticket for an open seat on the board in 2007, and he plans to run again this year, he said.